OXFORD, Miss. — As Ole Miss men’s basketball transitions out of summer workouts and looks ahead to the fall, head coach Chris Beard offered a revealing look into the program’s progress — and expectations — during his press conference Wednesday afternoon.

In typical Beard fashion, his message was equal parts direct, disciplined, and demanding.

NBA-Level Standards in the Training Room

Beard opened by praising Director of Sports Performance John Raybon, who has helped establish a professional standard for player care and development in the program.

“I think overall, John Raybon did a great job this summer, above and beyond,” Beard said.

“You know, had some guys banged up. A lot of things he did were really impressive. [Raybon] basically runs an NBA training room philosophy and so that was a victory.”

Chris Beard

In a college basketball landscape where injuries and year-round conditioning play a growing role in team success, Beard made it clear that Raybon’s approach is a competitive advantage for the Rebels.

A Plan for All 15

On the court, Beard described the basketball side of the summer as “a work in progress,” but emphasized the structured, all-hands-on-deck approach that defines his coaching philosophy.

“We got 15 players and we got a plan for those 15 guys, and we talk about it, we stress it, we focus it, we really are obsessed with it on a daily basis,” Beard said.

“You know these 15 guys getting better, executing a plan, constant evaluation, accountability, that’s really where it starts. If all 15 guys are playing as well as they can, they’re probably going to be OK.”

Chris Beard

The individualized attention, accountability, and daily improvement model isn’t just talk — it’s the foundation of how Beard builds programs. And he’s not interested in shortcuts or hype. Development is earned, not gifted.

Offense: Ball Control Over Buckets

When asked about offensive progress, Beard’s focus again shifted to fundamentals, not flash.

“On the offensive side of the ball, it’s always ball security, spacing, balance, don’t talk about scoring or points per game. I think we did well.”

In Beard’s system, efficiency and execution matter more than highlight reels. That focus on spacing and balance often leads to a team-first style of play, with multiple players involved in each possession. The goal isn’t to pad stats — it’s to win games.

Defense and Discipline

If offense is about structure, defense is about identity. For Beard, it’s non-negotiable.

“Defensively, you know, that’s the bread and butter. That’s where we invest most of our time during the summer,” he said.

“We gotta get back on defense. We gotta finish possessions with blockouts. Those are what we call the bookends. Nothing is more important.”

Chris Beard

Transition defense and rebounding — the “bookends” — remain the focus of Ole Miss’s defensive preparation. Beard’s teams are known for their grit on this end of the floor, and he made clear that this group is being held to that same standard.

Culture: Who Are We?

Beyond tactics, Beard talked about culture as a pillar of the program, ranking it right behind offense and defense.

“Thirdly (after offense and defense) would just be our culture,” Beard said. “You know, just trying to figure out who we are. Making sure the guys understand the non-negotiables. I’ll consider their point of view from time to time but there are a few things that are non-negotiable, and they have to understand that.”

In a college basketball era marked by roster turnover and the transfer portal, Beard emphasized the importance of setting expectations early — and sticking to them.

Respect, but Expectation for Malik Dia

When asked about forward Malik Dia, one of the most talented returners on the roster, Beard offered both praise and a challenge.

“I respect his heart, I respect his intelligence, I respect the way he lives his life, but it’s a bottom line deal,” Beard said.

“The guy has extremely high expectations. He set his goals, I haven’t set them for him. When you’re a grown man and playing in your fourth or fifth year of college basketball, and when you tell your coach or your teammates that you wanna play in the NBA… OK. What are you going to do to back it up?”

Chris Beard

Dia, who averaged 5.8 rebounds per game last season, has shown flashes of NBA-caliber talent — but Beard stressed that consistency and production are what will ultimately separate him.

“[Dia] does a lot of things to back it up, but there’s this thing called production and this thing called consistency. So 5.8 rebounds per game isn’t gonna get it done for Dia,” he said. “It gets down to individual possessions, moments, where he’s gotta be disciplined. He’s gotta do what he says he’s gonna do. He’s gotta find another level of discipline and if he does he’ll be a special player.”

Appreciation, But Realism

Beard closed by expressing gratitude for his players’ effort over the summer — while again reinforcing the demanding nature of his program.

“Overall, very appreciative of the guys this summer, their time, their investment,” he said.

“It’s not easy to play at Ole Miss, we tell recruits that all the time. But it’s not easy to win in life.”

Chris Beard

As the Rebels prepare to enter the fall portion of their preparation, Beard’s vision for the program is clear: discipline, development, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way.

Whether that translates to a breakthrough season in 2025-26 remains to be seen — but if summer is any indication, Ole Miss basketball under Chris Beard will be anything but soft.

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Jacob Quaglino

Jacob is a New Orleans, LA native and Ole Miss alumni, Class of 2024 and staff writer with The Rebel Walk. He has been a diehard fan of all Ole Miss sports his entire life, with his earliest Ole Miss sports memory being the Rebels’ iconic 2008 upset of then-No. 4 Florida. Among his other favorite Rebel sports memories are storming the field after beating LSU in 2023 and Georgia in 2024, watching the Rebels upset Alabama in back to back years in 2014-15, seeing the women’s golf team win the school’s first-ever NCAA-recognized national championship in 2021, and watching the Rebel baseball team win the College World Series in 2022. He remains exceedingly hopeful that the Ole Miss Athletics Department’s national championship trophy collection will grow in the coming years. Outside of The Rebel Walk, Jacob also works for a local radio news station and has many interests and hobbies, including reading, writing, watching college sports, playing pickleball, and traveling.